Our temple life and its programs continue to move forth often quietly, but substantively as we endeavor to sustain our religious, social, and community life together.

This past year, from December 2007 to November 2008, was again active with many services, meetings, and consultations. Sunday dharma family services / monthly Japanese language services (60), Hoji (family memorial services) (49), funeral / memorial / makuragyo services (23), temple meetings (72), district / national / community meetings and services (35), personal counseling / consultations (18) and various other temple socials and activities highlighted our busy temple calendar.

Our attention to the long-term temple strategic planning, which we developed with our Board of Directors in 2004 and aiming at its realization by the temple's 100th anniversary in 2014, continues to move forward with thoughtful effort and planning. The four point strategic planning is focused on the areas of Buddhist Education, Membership Development, Facilities Development, and Community Service. Although long-term planning is never easy, our temple leaders are attentive to this task in order to insure the direction and map of our temple's goals and future.

I continue to be encouraged by the steady attendance and participation of our many Sangha members at our dharma family services, especially during our special services and our monthly shotsuki memorial services for our past family members. In many ways, the shotsuki services remind us of the heritage and history of our temple life. We are given the time to express our gratitude for the many sacrifices of our past members who make our present temple life possible.

Our active dharma school participation too is a healthy sign of educating and developing our Buddhist children and youth, but, at the same time, it reflects the untiring devotion and dedication of our teachers and parents, who are especially instrumental in nurturing our children in the dharma. We see more and more fathers and mothers in attendance with their children at services and the temple activities. Our focus on the family as the active unit of our temple life continues to be one of the hallmarks of our temple.

Our senior program too continues to be a vital part of our temple life. The weekly Wednesday gatherings of our Tomonikai members for social and recreational activities; the Helping Hands members, who give of their time and service for our temple and others, i.e., the nenju offerings for Buddhist patients at Stanford Hospital through our volunteer chaplaincy group; the periodic "fun" gatherings and trips of our Yuwakai members - all enhance an active temple life for our senior members. they are also the primary participants at our monthly Japanese language service.

Our lay volunteer hospital chaplains service and strengthen the spiritual care services at Stanford Hospital. They serve Buddhist patients and also interfaith patients without much fanfare, but with a quiet humility and a strong presence. Their selfless devotion and time affirm positively the sharing of our Buddhist values with others in our daily life. Our pioneering participation in the spiritual care service also opened the was for a Chinese lay Buddhist volunteer group from Sunnyvale to join, broaden, and enhance the effort and dedication of our Buddhist volunteers at Stanford Hospital during the past year. We also wish to encourage other temple members who are interested in serving in this volunteer chaplaincy program. Please contact me for it is an inexpressibly and personally rewarding experience for each Buddhist volunteer.

We are also actively participating in the Campaign BCA 21st Century. This is the BCA fundraising drive to ensure the future of the BCA in fulfilling its core initiatives of 1. Ensuring a thriving Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Ministry; 2. Establishing the Jodo Shinshu Center of the BCA; 3. Strengthening Jodo Shinshu Buddhism; 4. Enhancing membership outreach; 5. Increasing self-reliance. We have reached, as of October, 93% ($519,000) of our obligatory temple goal of $560,000 with 63% of our members. 7% or $41,000 balance remain for us to fulfill our goal. If YOU are able, please contribute any additional funds to help our temple reach its goal. Thank you.

Finally, I am deeply grateful to YOUR support, dedication, and encouragements of our on-going temple life - its spiritual, social, psychological, and financial health. May the spiritual act and sustenance of the Onembutsu - Namu-Amida-Butsu - continue to connect each of us in faith, trust, and gratitude. And may our temple be a "special place" for our Sangha and others. Namu-Amida-Butsu.